Being a pharmacist (also known as a chemist or druggist), requires a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree to practice in the United States. Pharmacists can work in retail settings, hospitals, private medical practices, online pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, or for the federal government. Admission to pharmacy school requires taking the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT).
What Is the PCAT?
The PCAT is a computer-based standardized test administered by Pearson Education, Inc. What does the PCAT measure? This standardized test evaluates a test taker’s general academic ability and scientific knowledge necessary for a pharmaceutical education.
Here is everything prospective pharmacy students need to know about the test, including how long does the PCAT take, how the PCAT score is calculated, and what is considered a good PCAT score.
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December 2022 update
It was announced in December that the PCAT and PCAT Practice Tests will be retired in 2024, due to many institutions no longer using the PCAT requirement for student admission. Students who have already registered for the PCAT during the 2022-2023 testing cycle can continue with their exam, and there will be a final testing cycle offered during the 2023–2024 academic year. Find out more at the official website for the PCAT.
If you have any questions or need assistance regarding the PCAT test, please reach out to a Shorelight representative.
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What Is the Structure of the PCAT?
More specifically, how many sections does the PCAT exam have? How many questions are on the PCAT?
The PCAT has 192 multiple-choice questions and one writing prompt. It is divided into five subtests, given in the following order:
Writing: 30 minutes, one essay question. This section contains a single prompt or problem that requires a written solution or explanation. International students should be aware that there is no spell-check or other writing tools available for this section.
Biology: 45 minutes, 48 questions. This section includes 50% general biology, 30% human anatomy, and 20% microbiology questions presented as short passages or stand-alone items. An on-screen calculator is built into the exam.
Chemical processes: 45 minutes, 48 questions. This section includes 50% general chemistry, 30% organic chemistry, and 20% basic biochemistry process questions presented as short passages or stand-alone items. Students have access to a periodic table. Just like in the biology section, an on-screen calculator is built into the exam.
Critical reading: 50 minutes, 48 questions. This section includes 40% analysis, 30% comprehension, and 30% evaluation questions given in sets that accompany reading passages.
Quantitative reasoning: 50 minutes, 48 questions. This section includes 25% general math, 25% algebra, 18% probability and statistics, 18% precalculus, and 14% calculus stand-alone items, many of which are presented as word problems or problem-solving exercises. Test takers can also use a built-in on-screen calculator in this section.
Pearson also offers sample questions to show the types of material covered on the PCAT.
PCAT TIP
Each multiple-choice section has experimental questions that will not count toward your score. There is no penalty for guessing, meaning you should attempt to answer each question.
How Long Is the PCAT? How Long Does it Take to Get PCAT Scores?
The PCAT takes approximately three hours and 40 minutes to complete. You’re allowed to have a 15 minute break (optional) after your chemical processes subtest. After the test is finished, you will receive an unofficial preliminary score report at the test center. Your official score reports and transcripts will be available within five weeks following the end of the testing window in which you took your exam.
How Is the PCAT Scored? What Is a Good PCAT Score?
Scores range from 200 to 600 and are a composite of points from the multiple-choice questions. Also included are percentile ranks, ranging from 1–99. Your writing score is reported on a scale of 1.0 to 6.0 with a mean score. There is no passing score in general: each college or university sets its own standards for admission. Check with the colleges that interest you to see what the specific passing ranges are. PCAT score ranges are ranked as a percentile relative to current PCAT average scores from recent groups of test takers.
When Is PCAT Registration? When Are PCAT Test Dates 2022-2023?
For the remainder of the 2022-2023 testing cycle, the exam is offered in January, February, and March at Pearson VUE Test Centers. Registration for the 2023-2024 testing cycle is open and the exams will be held on July 6, 2023; October 16–27, 2023; and January 3–9, 2024. If you are under the age of 18, you may need to complete several additional steps before you can register.
How Much Does Taking the PCAT Cost?
Exam fees for PCAT are $210 and include three transcript recipients. Late registration and additional transcripts will cost you extra money. Your printable official scores are available for free online for one year, or you can pay a small annual fee to access them for up to five years.
How Many Times Can PCAT Be Taken?
The PCAT can be taken up to five times. Additional attempts require prior permission. Scores will automatically be sent to the three universities or colleges chosen during the registration process. You have the option to cancel this by selecting “No Score Option” at the end of the exam, but you also will not receive your scores and will not receive a refund of fees.
How to Study for PCAT
Depending how much time you can dedicate per week to studying and your level of knowledge of the material, most students plan on between one and three months of preparation for the PCAT, using official study materials from Pearson or a test-prep company like Kaplan.
Study hard and best of luck on your first step toward earning your Pharm.D.!
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